The most technologically advanced, most stylish, most refined and sportiest small car that Kia has ever produced - the all-new third-generation Picanto - goes on sale in the UK priced from £9,450.

At launch there are nine versions on offer, based on two engines, two transmissions and five trim lines - badged '1', '2', '3', 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S'. 'GT-Line' and 'GT-Line S' bring an unprecedented level of sportiness to the Picanto range, with bespoke exterior and interior styling and exclusive trim features. Later this year the most powerful engine ever offered in a Picanto - a 99bhp 1.0-litre T-GDi turbocharged unit - will become available.

The third-generation Picanto will be available only as a five-door car, since three-door models account for only 10 per cent of sales in the city-car sector - a share which is diminishing.

In this corner of the market, size matters. Customer research shows that city-car buyers do not want big cars, so the all-new Picanto occupies exactly the same amount of road space as the previous model, with an overall length of 3,595mm and a width of 1,595mm. However, those figures do not reveal the ingenuity that has gone into the new car's packaging to improve passenger and luggage space.

Advanced connectivity and driver assistance features are now available to keep occupants fully in touch with the outside world while minimising the risk of accidents, the car is based on an all-new platform featuring twice as much high-strength steel as the previous Picanto for strength and safety.

Extensively modified versions of the 1.0-litre and 1.25-litre normally aspirated petrol engines from the previous Picanto reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The all-new Picanto is capable of up to 64.2mpg, with CO2 as low as 101g/km.

The all-new Picanto in the UK

Small cars do not have to be spartan. In fact, customers cite equipment levels among their chief considerations in deciding what to buy. The all-new Picanto will not disappoint.

From grade '2', air conditioning, electric rear windows, electric heated door mirrors, Bluetooth with music streaming, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear-lever become standard. There is a four-speaker rather than a two-speaker audio system, body-coloured door handles and side mirror housings, high-gloss black centre fascia trim, a chromed grille surround and 14-inch alloy wheels in place of steel rims.

The 'GT-Line S' and grade '3' versions are distinguished by the 7-inch centre-mounted 'floating' touchscreen, giving access to the navigation, infotainment and connectivity systems, which include integration with Kia Connected Services powered by TomTom and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay via apps pre-loaded onto a smartphone.

All models from grade '3' have Autonomous Emergency Braking which can bring the car to a complete stop at certain speeds and to a partial stop at up to 107mph. This means that many accidents can be avoided, while the severity of others is considerably reduced. This feature is a £350 option on grades '1' and '2'.

Torque Vectoring, a first for Kia in the city-car class, is a further aid to handling stability. Using the anti-lock brake and stability control sensors, it detects when the car is drifting off its intended course in corners and gently brakes the inside rear wheel if the front of the car is running wide or the outer rear wheel if the rear tyres are starting to slide outwards. It is standard on all models.

Third generation of Kia's stylish city carFive doors and five seats as standardUp to 64.2mpg, with emissions as low as 101g/kmAvailable with advanced driver aids and connectivity featuresAll-new platform makes extensive use of high-strength steel1.0-litre T-GDi turbo engine to be added later in 2017Priced from £9,450 on the road